Georgia Tech WR, Alabama transfer Christian Leary enters NCAA transfer portal

Georgia Tech senior wide receiver Christian Leary put his name in the transfer portal Monday and will sit out the remainder of the 2024 season, for which he’ll use his redshirt.

Leary transferred to Georgia Tech from Alabama ahead of the 2023 season and was the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 59 overall prospect — including the No. 8 wide receiver — in the 2021 class.

Leary recorded only 40 offensive snaps in four games this season with the Yellow Jackets, according to Pro Football Focus: four against Florida State, 16 against Georgia State, five against Syracuse and 15 against FCS VMI. During that span, he also logged 14 special teams snaps, per PFF, all on kickoff return. He returned two kicks this season, one against Florida State for 20 yards and one against Syracuse for 15 yards. Along the way, he caught only three passes for 27 yards.

The Orlando, Florida, native saw his usage decrease from the 2023 season, during which he appeared in all 13 games and even made a start against Boston College in Week 8.

Last year, Leary ranked third on Georgia Tech in receptions (25), fourth in receiving yards (309) and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (four). He returned 21 kicks for 463 yards, averaging 22 yards per return.

Leary caught at least one pass in each of the first 11 games of the 2023 season. Although he didn’t get the start, he played 44 offensive snaps against Ole Miss in Week 3, per PFF — that day, he registered five receptions for 64 receiving yards, both single-game career highs.

But Leary is remembered best for his last-second and game-winning 44-yard touchdown reception against then-No. 17 Miami in Week 6.

In two seasons at Alabama, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Leary reeled in just three passes for 10 yards and a touchdown. The program named him a special teams player of the week twice, once in 2022 and once in 2021.

His lone touchdown with the Crimson Tide, an 11-yard receiving score, came against Arkansas during his true freshman campaign, which also saw him play some running back against Texas A&M and record three carries for 22 yards.

Leary was an all-purpose threat on the football field at Edgewater High School, and he was a standout on the track, too.

The wide receiver and return man has already played at two schools since then. Now he’s once again looking for a new destination.